Senator O. Gene Maddox View All Years

O. GENE MADDOX

O. Gene Maddox was born on August 23, 1938, in Peoria, Illinois, to Orville Fulton Maddox and Helen Iona Placher Maddox. He passed away on June 2, 2015, at the age of 76.

Maddox graduated from Chillicothe High School in Chillicothe, Illinois, in 1956. He attended Northwestern University and received his B.S. in Communications in 1960. He attained a Juris Doctorate from Northwestern Law School in 1962. While attending law school, he served as an editor of the Law Review and was president of his fraternity, Phi Kappa Sigma.

Following graduation from college, Maddox moved to Des Moines to work for the Brody, Parker, Roberts, Thoma & Harris law firm. Later he joined Mid-Continent Industries and served as vice president of employee relations, secretary, and general counsel until 1978. He maintained a private law practice from 1978 to 2006.

Maddox was elected to the Clive City Council in 1975. He was elected mayor in 1977 and held that position for 15 years. While serving as mayor, Maddox championed a number of intergovernmental activities and was also involved with establishing the Clive Festival and the Clive Fun Run. In 1993 Maddox began serving as a State Senator and later as a State Representative. Maddox was known for his great sense of humor and was a person very committed to his beliefs.

Maddox served on the board of directors for Polk County March of Dimes, Polk County Cancer Society, American Diabetes Association, League of Iowa Municipalities, and Iowa Jaycees. He was a member of a number of other public service and professional groups, including the American Bar Association, the Polk County Bar Association, the Clive Lions Club, and the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation. He was a member of Grace United Methodist Church. He also was an active volunteer reader for visually impaired persons on the IRIS radio network.

O. Gene Maddox was a Polk County Republican. He served in the Iowa Senate from 1993–2000, and the House of Representatives from 2001–2006, during the 75th, 76th, 77th, 78th, 79th, 80th, and 81st General Assemblies.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE EIGHTY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF IOWA: That in the passing of the Honorable O. Gene Maddox, the State has lost an honored citizen and faithful and useful public servant, and that the Senate by this resolution expresses its appreciation of his service to the State.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That a copy of this resolution be spread upon the Journal of the Senate.

Nate Boulton

Jack Whitver

Brad Zaun

Committee